“The historical Hollander building that’s been set for redevelopment since last summer has new owners who plan to move the long-awaited project forward.
“The Hollander loft apartment project at 2418-2428 N. Milwaukee Ave., seven years in the making under company GW Properties, was sold last month to Northbrook-based J2 Equities, said GW Properties principal Mitch Goltz.
“The project to redevelop the old moving and storage building received a zoning change and full City Council approval last summer for its 62 loft-style apartments — with 12 deemed affordable — and three or four retail tenants. It went through five renditions since 2018 and was unexpectedly stalled last year as part of a political squabble between two aldermen.
“Goltz’s company bought the building in 2018. But after re-evaluating his company’s portfolio and focusing more on retail projects nationwide this year, Goltz said it made financial sense to offload the Hollander project to a company “well-positioned” to take the reins.
“J2 Equities is an affiliate of the family real estate and development company The Lelyn Group. The group has worked on Chicago-area neighborhood retail and office properties since 1985, including condo buildings in Ukrainian Village and Lincoln Park. CEO Jason Wiznitzer created an LLC for J2 Equities last summer, shortly after City Council approved the Hollander’s zoning change, according to state records.
“‘I believe there’s a strong demand for new residential units, and combined with that, we’re able to provide some affordable units as well as part of this project, an ever-growing need,’ Wiznitzer said. ‘This project has been sitting in development phases for quite some time. It’s a larger piece on the block of Milwaukee, and we’re honestly excited about the opportunity to bring the project to fruition and fill in the block.’
“J2 plans to build what was passed in council and what GW settled on, which includes demolishing a single-story building next to the Hollander building to make room for a five-story structure. The combined building will create room for apartments, retail tenants on the ground floor and a fitness center and a rooftop deck, according to renderings shared last year.” (Ariel Parrella-Aureli, Block Club Chicago, 4/16/25)
Preservation Chicago had been in communication with developer Mitch Goltz of GW Properties, former owner David Hollander and aldermen’s offices to encourage a preservation-sensitive reuse of the building and to promote a potential landmark designation. All were open and receptive to the concept. We applaud Mitch Goltz for his stewardship of the Hollander Storage Building and bringing the redevelopment plans to where they are today.
Preservation Chicago encourages the new developer, Jason Wiznitzer CEO of J2 Equities to consider landmarking the Hollander Warehouse building and its highly decorative and intact lobby. A different building with similar name, the Hollander Fireproof Warehouse located at Milwaukee, North and Damen avenues was renovated in 2016 as part of the Northwest Tower/ Robey Hotel project.
Read the full story at Block Club Chicago
- Logan Square’s Hollander Building Gets New Owners Who Promise Long-Planned Redevelopment; The apartment project, seven years in the making under company GW Properties, was sold to Northbrook-based J2 Equities last month, Ariel Parrella-Aureli, Block Club Chicago, 4/16/25
- Historic, high-visibility building in Chicago’s Logan Square sells for residential conversion; J2 Equities scoops up former Hollander Storage & Moving building, Ryan Ori, CoStar News, 4/10/25
- Will Hollander Apartment Project Finally Come To Fruition? Neighbors Support Latest Proposal; After many false starts, neighbors hope the latest plans for the Milwaukee Avenue building will move forward, Ariel Parrella-Aureli, Block Club Chicago, 1/19/24
- Updated Plans Revealed For Hollander Building Redevelopment In Logan Square, Ian Achong, Chicago YIMBY, 2/20/24
- Hollander Apartments? New Proposal Could Bring Up To 57 Apartments And Retail To Historical Logan Square Site; The residential-heavy proposal comes after developers said plans for an all-commercial property were ruined by the pandemic. But Ald. Daniel LaSpata is concerned about adding more studios and one-bedroom units to the area, Mina Bloom, Block Club Chicago, 8/17/22
- Logan Square’s Hollander Building To Become Lofts, Retail, Day Care After City Council Vote; Developer GW Properties wants to rehab and redevelop the nearly 110-year-old building at 2418 N. Milwaukee Ave., a project years in the making; Mina Bloom, Block Club Chicago, 7/21/21
- Developer Buys Historic Hollander Moving Site, Plans Boutique Offices with Restaurant, Apartments, “I think it’ll be a nice complement to have the new meets the old,” the developer said. Mina Bloom, Block Club Chicago, 8/8/18